I have frequently and vehemently lauded Veronica Mars on this blog, and now I will do so again, because we are nearing a new episode that should be a good jumping on point for new viewers. I could, perhaps, be accused of hyperbole in some of my statements on these pages, but I assure I am not exaggerating when I say that Veronica Mars is one the best hours of television you will ever see. There are hardly any weak episodes, the writing is clever and fresh, with characters acknowledging and referencing pop culture without it being gratuitous like The O.C., among others. I find I laugh more during a typical episode than most sitcoms, and am shocked and intellectually stimulated at the same time.

Look, even if you are skeptical, give it a try. If you don't like it, it sure can't hurt to try, and if you do like it, spread the word. This show is on the new CW network, and it needs help in the ratings. TV is the driving force behind much of pop culture, and when a show of such quality of Veronica Mars appears, I want its influence to spread as far and as wide as possible. While our society tends to stress quality in the written word, we seem to focus on the lowest common denominator for our visual entertainment, and the success of a venture like Veronica Mars can only lead to a rise in the quality of the average show.